CVE-2015-5102 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Reader and Acrobat 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic before 2015.006.30060, and Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Continuous before 2015.008.20082 on Windows and OS X allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3095, CVE-2015-5087, CVE-2015-5094, CVE-2015-5100, CVE-2015-5103, CVE-2015-5104, and CVE-2015-5115.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting multiple versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat software across Windows and macOS platforms. The issue manifests through unspecified attack vectors that enable remote code execution or denial of service conditions, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where these applications are widely deployed. The vulnerability impacts Adobe Reader versions 10.x before 10.1.15 and 11.x before 11.0.12, alongside Acrobat and Acrobat Reader DC Classic and Continuous versions prior to their respective patch releases. Unlike other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe such as CVE-2015-3095, CVE-2015-5087, CVE-2015-5094, CVE-2015-5100, CVE-2015-5103, CVE-2015-5104, and CVE-2015-5115, this specific flaw operates through distinct exploitation mechanisms that require separate remediation approaches.
The technical nature of this memory corruption vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied input within the Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications. When processing specially crafted PDF documents, the software fails to properly validate memory operations, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged by attackers. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking in memory management routines, allowing malicious actors to overwrite critical memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. These memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they can be exploited through social engineering attacks where users are tricked into opening malicious PDF files, making them difficult to prevent through network-level defenses alone.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5102 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise potential. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat face significant risk exposure since these applications are frequently used to process documents from untrusted sources, including email attachments, web downloads, and file transfers from external parties. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, execute malicious code, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within enterprise networks. The vulnerability's presence in both classic and continuous delivery versions of Adobe Acrobat DC means that organizations must carefully evaluate their entire software ecosystem to identify all affected endpoints. The memory corruption nature also makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to detect and remediate, as it may not immediately manifest in obvious system failures but could silently enable advanced persistent threat campaigns. This vulnerability falls under the attack pattern category of technique T1059 in the ATT&CK framework, specifically related to command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious payloads within the compromised system context.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5102 require immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, with particular emphasis on implementing multi-layered security controls. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Reader and Acrobat, specifically versions 10.1.15, 11.0.12, and their respective DC releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and application whitelisting policies should be implemented to restrict PDF document processing to trusted environments, while email filtering solutions should be configured to scan and quarantine suspicious PDF attachments. Security teams should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for anomalous memory access patterns indicative of buffer overflow exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments should include comprehensive scanning for all Adobe products across the enterprise, with particular attention to identifying legacy installations that may not receive automatic updates. The remediation process must account for the potential impact of patch deployment on business operations, requiring careful testing in controlled environments before widespread rollout to production systems. Additionally, user awareness training should be enhanced to educate personnel about the risks of opening unexpected PDF documents and the importance of verifying document sources before processing potentially malicious content.